Oil-drying apparatus.



W. L. MORRIS.

OIL DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1911 1,066,64 Patented July 8, 1913.

2 SKBETE-"SHDET 1.

W. L. MORRIS.

OIL DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1911. 1,066,644, Patented July 8, 1913.

2 SHEET8-SHEET 2.

5e :i'gcyjv Zia/ 3 72760 m X/i/I. (04/? {A d UNITED STATES OFFICE.

WILLIAM L. MORRIS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, TO S. F. BOWSER & (30., INC., 01? FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

OIL-DRYING APPARATUS.

1 ,OGGJM 4.

Application filed September 25, 1911.

To all whom it may concern lie it known that L W .1: man L. Momus, a citizen of the United Stat s, residing at Fort Wayne, in the county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful lunn'ovement's i'n Oil-Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improved apparatus for removing water from oil which carries animal fats.

The invention more pz'urticularly adapted for removing the moisture contained in the f'rotli,-'loa 111 suds or other styled conditions of oil which contains animal fat, water andair all expanded into a light foam.

Conditions, productive of mixtures requiring the use of any improved oil drying apparatus in which it is particularly desired to remove -'ater from oil ct'mtaining animal fat, such as lard oil are found around machines using cutting oils upon tools where water brought in contact. with the oil. Under conditions where mineral oil and water are to be separated the water and oil would ordinarily be raised in temperature to a degree where water would be transformed intosteam and carried away. My improved device serves an entirely differentpurpose and is entirely unlike an ordinary evaporator. Under the conditions attendant upon the use of my improved device the mingled animal fats, water and oil exhand into froth or foam at about 180 temperature Falnz, and the entire mass of fluid goes into this statclong before the water will vaporize which will take place'almut 212 l ahr. When the mingled oil, animal fat and water have been turned into this state in my improved device by the application of heat it becomes a poor transmitter of heat and the tendent'ay is to continue to expand into still lighter foam. The problem not to remove moisture from the liquid as it will not stay in liquid form, but to remove moisture from the froth or foam.

The object of the invention is to provide certain new and useful improvements in oil drying apparatus of the described character as hereinafter set forth and claimed.

It is found that when froth or foam consisting of ater, oil and animal fat is brought in contact with a hot surface steam Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8. 1913.

Serial No. 651,083.

is liberated and by its expansion drives ahead of it such Oflllt. mixture as may be in its path.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for keeping the foam or froth closely against a hot surface in a thin sheet in order that the steam U1 moisture may escape freely from the mixture and be liberated from the animal fat and oil.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for carrying the steam vapor out of contact with the foam or :froth as soon as it is liberated therefrom comprising an improved arrangement of air passages adapted to carry the vapor by means of currents of air which circulate past the aforesaid hot surfaces which are throwing oll vapor from the mixture presented to the same.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings which form a part of the specification and of which Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1 looking downwardly; Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view looking in the same direction on the line 3-4, of the same figure; and Figs. t and :i are enlarged detail views of parts hereinafter referred to and described.

\Vhen it is desired to ren'iove water from a mixture of oil and animal fat I have as certained by experiment when the mingled materials in the form of suds or foam are presented to a heated metallic surface under the impclling force of an air blast or air current that the air will not only carry the steam along with it but due to its becoming heated it is susceptible of carrying moisture imlepcndeutly of steam evaporation. The expanded condition of the foam is gtivcrm'd by its temperature. Watt-r, oil and animal fat in the form of suds or foam may; be brought in contact with a very hot surface, one which is sullicicntly hot to evaporize the water, and the foam or suds will immediately start to sputter and expand to throw off steam, and will then contract back to solid oil when all the water is driven oil". My improved device is adapted to carry the dried oil out of the path of the incoming foam or suds so that if any of the same rcmains on the hot surface it will be returned back to it and the oil which has been freed of moisture will be diverted out ofthe path of the further progress of the suds orfoam. As a hot surface over which topassthe foam or froth composed of water, oil and animal fat, Iprefer a steam coil preferably of cylindrical form as indicated by' the reference character 10. This coil-may be ar.

ranged in any desired manner, although it is preferred that the coil extend vertically as illustrated. Steam to the coil 10 is admitted and discharged through the nipples 11, 12, respectively, which have. suitable connections with feed and exhaust pipes not herein shown since the same forms no part of the'invention. The'steam c'oil nipples 11, 12, extend through thewalls of a cylindrical casing indicated by the reference character 13 which supports the coil and like the same extends vertically although not necessarily so, since it has been found by experiment that-the invention maybe practised by the 'drying coil in horizontal instead of vertical of the invention illustrated the upper extremity of the cylindrical supporting casing 13 is closed by a circular top plate 14 secured to the flanged upper extremity of the casing by suitable retaining bolts, both bolts and flanges being shown but not indicated by reference characters as the same indicate one mode of fastening the parts'together and constitute no part of the invention. .The entire-device may be supported by any suitable foundation one form being illustrated asmade .of'suitable material as masonry or concrete and indicated by'the reference character 15 The casing 13 is closed by a suitable bottom plate 16' which is flanged preferably as illustrated and 'secured to the lower extremity of the casing 13 by rivets or other suitable means, the said flange and rivets being illustrated in Fig. 1 but not designated by reference characters since this detail of construction forms no part of the invention.- The botto'm plate 16 of the casing is pierced to provide-an open ing and support for the discharge end of the feed pipe 17 through which the mixed material of water, oil and animal fat is ad-- mitted to. the apparatus. Other openings in the bottom plate 16 receive and support the intake and discharge steam pipes 18, 19, which are connected with the coil 20 at the tom plate 16. The bottom steam coil being heated in the manner shown and described cc ming mixture water, oil and animal fats to expand into froth or foam but not being sufiicientlyhot to immediately vaporize the water, the mixture is ready to be submitted to .the heated vertically extending coils 10, preferably in the form of athin a revolving conveyer comprising one or more channeled members as indicated by the reference, character 21 secured to supporting arms 22 of which there are preferably two suitable spiders which are provided with upon vertical central shaft 24 rotatably journaled in bearing block 25 at its lower extremity which bearing is secured to hottoin plate 16 on the upper side thereof. At its upper extremity the vertical central shaft 24 passes through an opening inftop plate 14 and is rotatably supported by a bearing member 26 in the form of a spider having radiating arms which extend from the bearing portion a sufiicient distance to engage the top plate 14 where these arms aresecured to the plate by suitable retaining preferably provided around the peripheral portion at the-extremities of the radial arms with a flange, one member of whichextends branch of the same extends downward vertically beyond the ce ntral opening in top plate 14 as illustrated in Fig. 1-to form an air closure for the inner upper extremity of rotatably supported or carried by spiders 23 28 being provided withan unobstructed loncasing at the top thereof to the interior just above the bottom steam coil 20 save for the terposition of the top supporting spider26 of the central shaft and thefsupporting spiders 23 for the channeled conveyers. .tion may be imparted to the central shaft vertical shaft and the latter meshing therewith andvsecured to the inner extremity of shaft 31 which issupported by suitable bearings 32, 33, secured to the-upper extremity outer periphery .of the same and being provided with drivingpulley 34' orother suitable means for imparting rotation to the said shaftp- In order that the spiders '23 carrying the channeled conveyers may be sespiders 23 extend through to the central film. This is accomplished preferably by' to each channeled conveyer radiating from v the central tube or air passage 28 which is on central shaft 24. The tubular member gitudinal opening from the exterior of the slight obstructions'due to the necessary in- Rota 24 by any desired means, that preferred be-' ing the bevel gears-29, 30, the former of which is fixed to the upper extremity of they to atemperature sufficient to cause the :ir'rhub portions being spacedapart and sleeved means asbolts 27. The bearing spider 26 is r horizontally and another circumferential of. the casing and extending beyond the.

. jcuredf to rotate with central shaft 24 it is bottom of the apparatus just above the bot- I preferred that the radiating openings in the 55 opening or hub for the central shaft and be a threaded to receive the threaded inner ends of the supporting arms 22 whichfmay be" screwed to bind upon the central shaft and thus lock the spiders in fixed relation to the shaft. The spiders 23 are each provided with one or more similar radial housings or (menings which are also threaded and. adapted to receive radial arms as indicated by the reference character to the outer extremities of which adjacent the steam coil 10 are secured one or more fan vanes 36. Two of such vanes are shown in the embodiment of the invention illustrated.

On its limped. surface the bottom plate 16 has secured; thereto a peripheral flange of considerable height preferably extending almost to the lower extremity of the steam coil 10 and adjacent; the lower extremity of the tubular member 98 as indicated by the reference character 37. The circular flanged member-:37 forms a closed receptacle around the lower coil 20, the walls of the same be ing spaced some distance apart from the inner surface of the outer casing 13 so that a peripheral passage between the outer casing and the wall 37 is provided as indicated by the reference character 38. The lower extremities of the channeled conveycrs 2t dip into the material entering the lower extremity of the device on the interior of the upwardly opening closure formed by the flange 37 which owing to their peculiar shape at their lower extremities are adapted to pick up the' froth or foam adjacent the lower steanteoil at the bottom of the device and because of the fact that they are being rapidly rotated around the central shaft the materials from above the lower coil at the bottom of the device will be carried to the upper extremities of these members and discharged outwardly against the heated steam coil 10 adjacent the upper extremity thereof and in a thin film which by gravity will be caused to travel downwardly throughout the length of the heated coil. It is during this downward travel of the materials after leaving the conveyers that the drying ofthc oil and the separation of the materials is accomplished. The dry oil dropping from the coils 10 passes into the peripheral open ing 38 between the casing 13 and the inner flanged member 37 thence outwardly through pipe 35) into the chamber 40 past overflow 41 and tliencethrough discharge pipe 42 to any desired source for collecting the dry oil. The chamber 40 is formed by the cylindrical enlargement 43 interposed between pipes 39 and 42 and need not be ctmstructcdin theprecise form illustrated although the form shown is preferred. The elevationv of the overflow 41 insures that the dry oil shall be retained within the peripheral chamber 38 at the bottom of the casing to a predetermined height efi'ectively sealing the casing against the-cscape of any froth or foam,*'s'uch foam being lighter and free to fall over the top edge of 37 back into base of drier.

In order that the channeled conveyers 21 may be effective to elevate the material. from the bottom of the device to the upper extremity of the coil, the open or channel side of these members each preferably faces the central shaft 2i and the members are so secured to the radial arms 22 as to converge downwardly toward the center of the casing to a point immediately above the steam coils 20 and having their upper or discharge extremities adjacent the peripheral coils 10 at the top side thereof. 'll channel conveyers 21 are provided with s mon shaped receiving n'iembcrs 44 at their lower ex trcmitics which open in the direction of rotation of the conveyorsenabling the same. to picl; up the materials from above the coils at the bottom of the device and deflect the same into the channel to be discharged at the upper extremities of the coils l0. The channel convcycrs 21 may be secured to arms 22 by any suitable means as the U- bolts and clamps indicated at 4:) while similar means as indicated at to, may be employed for securing the vanes 3b to the radial arms Adjacent the top of the casing '13 is the lateral discharge outlet {17 through which is adapted to be passed the escaping air, vapor and comlc-nsation. Collection of condcnsation and the direction of the same to the discharge passage 47 facilitated by means of the circinn't'crcntial flange 48 which is sccured to the interior of the casing 13 and with the wall of the casing forms a trough around the inner periphery of the casing, the outlet of which is through the discharge opening 47. To prevent water vapors condensing upon top plate 14: and dropping back into oil a circular conical shaped plate 49 is secured to the upper or top member i l of the casing by the retaining bolts 27, this plate being pierced at the center to surround the dmvnwardly extending flange of the bearing member 2b which supports the central shaft 24-.

The operation of the device is as follows: The bottonicoil 20 being heated by the circulation through the same of steam passing through supply and exhaustpipes 18, it) and the vertically extending coil 10 also being heated by the cirmilation of live steam through supply and exhaust pipes 11, 12. the mixture containing oil to be dried is ad mitted through intake pipe 17 into the compartment open at the top around the steam coil 20, where if not already expanded the material will pass into a condition of froth and foam and will be elevated by the rapidly rotating channel conveyors 21 by reason of their coop-shaped lower proiections 44.

passes into the peripheral opening 38 around 5 the bottom of the casing; the liqu'idoil which is free from Water would be discharged through the overflow 4:1 and the oil discharge pipe 42. Any foam thatpasses the coil -and reaches the dry oil collector 29 38 is allowed to overflow back into base of drier and be returned to drying coil. Evaporation of moisture from the materials passing downwardly over the coils is greatly facilitated by reason ofthe provision made for the passage of an air current or blast.

through .the device, such a current being largely induced by the rapid rotation of the fan vanes 36 as well as the channel conveyers or elevators 21, the 'air entering in a well kno'wnr-mannerv through the' openings in the spider bearing 26 in the top of'the device passing thence downwardly through the central air tube 28 which, rotates with central shaft 24:, being thence deflected upwardly over heated coils 20 and inwardly between'fianged members 48,49 and thence outward through discharge pipe 47, the currentcarrying with it moisture in the form of vapor or in a condensed form as ex- 40 plailied. By rcasonof the above arrangemerit of the parts of the'device it will-be seen that the dried oil will pass outwardly beyond the coils so that there will be no ;mixingot the dry oil'with the incoming raw materials.

v In order that the invention might be fully understood, the details of the preferred embodiment thereof have been specifically shown and described but it will be apparent thatthere may be many modificationsa'nd arrangements of various parts madeby those skilled in the art'without departing from the purpose and spirit-of the invention.

I claim:

5 5 1. In an. oil drying apparatus, the combination with a closed casing provided With an inner heated surface, there being.- an inlet for the materials to be dried and an outlet.

for vapor and condensation in said casing, means for discharging the dried oil from the casing, and means for presenting the incon'iing material to the heated surface comprising a rotatingconveyer adapted to lift the incoming matdrial from the bottom of the'casing and present the same in "a thin pipe 47. The material surface.

film to theheated surface adjacent the top thereof.

2. In an oil drying apparatus, the combination witha closed casing being provided with an inner heated surface around the vertical sides thereof, an-inlet for the materials to be dried, an outlet for vapor and condensation, -means for discharging the dried oil, and means for presenting the i coining material to the heated surfacea jacent the topmost dportion thereof compr sing a conveyer bla e adapted to' receive the incoming material adjacent the lower ex tremity of the casing and elevate the same to the uppermost extremity ojtjthe heated 0 3. In an oil dryin apparatus, the combination with a close caslng being provided with an inner heated surface around the vertical sides thereof, an inlet for the materials 35 to be dried, an outlet for vapor and con-. densation, means for discharging the dried oil, and means for presenting the incoming: material to the heated surface adjacentthe topmost. portion thereof comprising a vconveyer blade adapted to receive the incoming material adjacent the lower extremity of thecasing and elevate the same to 'theuppermost extremity of the heated surface, said conveyer blade being mounted to rotate on avertical axis within the casing.

4. In an oil drying apparatus, the combination with a relatively closed casing pro-. v'ided-with an inner heated surface, a 11809131. tacle for incoming material in the bottom of the casing, the said receptacle having its side walls of a smaller diameter than the diameter of the walls of the casing, a heat, ing surface adjacent the interior of the walls of the casing above the said receptacle, said heating surface being so positioned that dried oil will by gravity be directed between. the walls of the receptacle and the wallsof the casing, and means for conducting the dried oil fromthe casing. 11 5. In an oil drying apparatus, the combination with a relatively closed casing provided with an innerheated surface comprising asteam coil extending around the inner periphery of the casing and a steam lco l adjacent the bottom of the cas1ng, there' .be--..

ing an inlet fOl',-tll6 materials to be dried adjacent the bottom of the casing and an outlet for vapor and condensation adjacent the top of thecasing, means for discharging the dried oil from adj aeent. the bottom of the casing, and means for presenting the inc'ommg material in a th n film to the said steam coil around'the inner periphery of the case mg. a

-. 6Q in an oil drying -apparatus,-the combination with a closed casing being. provided with an inner heated surfaEe around the vertical sides thereof, an inlet at, the bottom of.

the casing for the materials to be dried,

an outlet for vapor and condensation adjacent the top of the rasing, means for discharging the dried oil, and means for presenting the incoming materials to the heated surface adjacent the topmost portion thereof comprising a conveyor blade adapted to revolve around a relatively vertical axis and being adapted to receive the incoming materials adjacent the lower extremity of the easing and present the same to the heated surface in a thin film at the uppermost extremity oi the heated surface.

7. In an oil drying apparatus, the coinbination with a closed easing being provided with an, intake tor-the materials to be dried, an outlet l'or air and gases at the top of the casino, and means adjacentthe bottom of the casing for discharging dried oi, a heatinc; surt'ace extending around the vertical walls ot the casing and across the bottoms thereof, and n'ieans t'or conveying the materials to be dried from adjacent the heating surface at the bottom ot the casing to the uppermost extremity of the heating surface and presenting the same thereto in a thin l ilni.

3. in an oil drying}; apparatus, the coinbin-a ion with a closed rasing' provided with an inner heated sur'tace, an inlet For the ma erials to be dried, an outlet for vapor and coiulensatitm, means For discharging the dried oil, a heating); surtace in the bottom ot the closed casingcomprising a steam coil, and means for conveying; the materials to be dried from the said steam'coil in the bottom ot the casing to the u 'ipermost e.\' tremity ot the '\'allsol. the asinej and pre sentingz; the same thereto in a thin film, the said conveying means connirising a chan ueled member mounted to rotate round the vertical axis within the casing.

t. In an oil drying appa 'atus, the combination \vitl. a stationary cylimlrical easing provided with an intake, in the bottom thereof for the materials to be dried, a steam coil in the bottom of the casing and a steam coil extending in a vertical direction around the vertical walls oli the casing, conveying means within the. casing" adapted to receive the incoming: materials adjacent the said steam coils in the bottom of the casino and conveying the same to the upper extremity ot the steam (-oils around the vertical walls of the casing, a shalt rotatably mounted within the casing tor drying the said conveyor, an open tubular air shat't surrouiuling the said vertical shalt and adapted to rotate therewith, there being" an outlet tor air and gases adjacent the top of tho :asiue, and means for discharging the dried oil from the casin ltbTn an oil dryingappa 'atus, the coml'liiltttiOll with a relatively closed casing: provided with an inner heating surface, a receptacle for incoming material in the bottom of the casing, the said receptacle having its side w: lls separated from the walls of, the casing whereby an annular space is provided between the 'asing' wall. and the walls ot the receptacle, a steam heated coil suspended within the casing above the said annular spacebctween the receptacle and the wall of the -asing whereby material presented to the steam coil and dropping therefrom may be collected within the said space between the rereptacle and the amine, means for conveying the dried oil from the vasing, and means for removing air and gases from within the casin ll. In an oil drying appa 'atus, the coinhiuation with a closed casing provided with an inner h *ated surface, there being an inlet tor'the nniterials to be dried and an outlet lfor vapor and condensation in said casing, means for discharging the dried. oil from the casing, means for presenting the incoming material to the heated surface, and a blower rotatably mounted within and inelosed by the amine adapted to move the air in a cont-imions current over the heated surt'ace within the casing.

in an oil drying apparatus, the combination with a closed casing providedwith an inner heated surl'ace, an inlet for the materials to be dried, an outlet for vapor and condensation, means For discharging the dried oil, means for i'n'esenting the incom in; materials to the heated surlace, eomprising a channeled member provided with a scoop or receivingbladi at its lower tremitv, the said channeled members being rotatably carried on a vertical shaft within the casing. a tan blade carried by the Said vertict l shalt, and means for imparting rotation to said shat't.

3. in an oil drying apparatus, the combiuation with a casing ol a heated surtace in said casing, means for presenting ma lcrials to be dried to said heated surl'ace within the casing, said last mentioned means being carried on a vertical rotatable shalit and supported by radial arms screw threaded at their inner extrmnities into spiders sleeved on said rotatable shall, the said arms being screw threaded into said spiders with their innermost extremities in engagement with thesaid rotatable shal't in order to secure said spiders and arms in fixed relation to said rotatable sha'tt.

it. in an oil drying apparatus, the combination with a closure being provided with a heated surface along the vertical walls thercol", an intake tor the materials to be dried, an outlet for vapors and moisture adjacent the top ot the closure, a conical shaped flange secured to the top of the do sure adjacent the said discharge opening, a peripheral conical flange secured to th interior walls ol the 'asing and spaced apart from the lirst said conical llange to provide an out-let between said flanges leading to-the said discharge opening, the said peripheralflange" on the interior Wallof the casing being adapted to form a trough venting through the said discharge opening, and

means for presenting materials to be dried to the said heated surface and for passing an air blast through the said casing and" through the said discharge outlet.

15. In an oil drying apparatus, the combination with a casing being provided with an intake for materials to be dried and an outlet for vapors and moisture, means for presenting materials to be dried to the said: heated surface and for passing-a blastgofair through the said casing over the said v the said peripheral chamber and being proheated surface and out through the said discharge opening, a receptacle in the bottom of the ,casingspaced apart "from the Walls of the casing 'to' provide a peripheral chamber between the said receptacle and the casing, and an overflow pipe leading from vided With a trap elevated above the plane of the said discharge opening whereby the dried oil Within the said peripheral chamber may be retained at a level. v 1 16. Inan oil drying apparatus, the combipredetermined natidn with a closed casing being provided with means for separating moisture from oils and the like, a peripheral chamber'in charge pipe leading from the closed receptacle.

17. In combination with a heated surface, means for admitting upon it the combined liquid oil from foam placed at the terminal of flow and means for returning the undried oil in form of foam back to the heated surface.

' oil, animal fat and Water, a trap to separate In testimony whereof I have signed name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses, on this 31st day of August A. D. 1911. v.

WILLIAM L. MORRIS. 'jWitnes es v J. W; Bmmows,

CHAS. M. SMITH. 

